Last Updated:September 01. 2007 11:42PM
Published: September 02. 2007 3:30AM

SCA Tissue North America was one of seven companies recognized by a national nonprofit labor policy and advocacy organization, American Rights at Work, in its 2007 Labor Day list: Partnerships that Work.

American Rights at Work highlighted SCA Tissue's relationship with its workers and their union, the United Steelworkers.

At the SCA Tissue plant in Barton Riverfront Industrial Park, Joey Weston, union president for Region 9, Local 1535 of the United Steelworkers, said it was an honor for the company to receive the recognition.

"Anytime they brag on your company or you win any recognition, you're glad to hear about it," Weston said. "It makes us feel like we're achieving what we're going after at the plant."

Approximately 320 of 400 employees at the Barton facility are union members.

The list noted that SCA and United Steelworkers have a partnership and a neutrality agreement between the company and the union, and that the company allowed workers to freely decide to form a union that it would recognize.

Weston said it has been important to him and other union members and employees at SCA Tissue that the company has encouraged collaboration between the company and union leaders.

"Everything out here we strive to do is through shared decision-making," Weston said. "This is a company that sits down with the union officials and tries to get things settled."

The American Rights at Work Labor Day List noted that SCA created a joint advisory committee with company and union leaders to address challenges in the workplace and highlight successes.

Marty Ferguson, regional controller of Southeast operations for the Barton plant, said the company tries to involve everyone within the facility in problem-solving.

"We truly believe, together, we can come up with better solutions to make things work more efficiently," Ferguson said.

Weston said he hopes to continue on the same path with the company and the union to try to build trust and respect between the two.

"We have the technicians out on the floor that see this and understand the company is serious about the shared decision-making," Weston said.

Along with recognizing SCA's cooperative labor-management model, the Labor Day List also praised its environmental record and worldwide sustainability efforts in its paper manufacturing.

TimesDaily Staff Writer Kenda Williams can be reached at 740-5720 or kenda.williams@timesdaily.com.